Over 300 Report Illness Symptoms in Kerala’s Wayanad, Health Officials Intensify Monitoring
Health authorities in Kerala have stepped up surveillance after hundreds of people in Wayanad reported symptoms linked to shigellosis, a highly contagious bacterial infection that affects the intestines.
According to health officials, around 339 people have experienced symptoms such as diarrhoea and fever, while two young children—a four-and-a-half-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl—have tested positive for the infection. Several patients are currently receiving treatment in government and private hospitals across the district.
Shigellosis is caused by Shigella bacteria, which typically spread through contaminated food or water. While most cases are mild and recover with proper care, the infection can become serious for young children, elderly individuals, and people with weakened immune systems.
The situation has drawn concern after a four-year-old girl undergoing treatment for a Shigella infection at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital passed away. Health officials are continuing investigations to determine whether recent cases reported in Wayanad are directly linked to the bacterial outbreak.
Kerala Health Minister K. Muraleedharan said authorities have launched food safety inspections in schools, hotels, and eateries to prevent further spread. Establishments have been directed to provide safe drinking water, including boiled and chlorinated water, while unhygienic food stalls may face closure.
Alongside monitoring the Shigella outbreak, the state government is also maintaining vigilance against other infectious diseases. Screening measures have been strengthened for international travellers, and isolation facilities have been kept ready as a precaution.
Health experts have urged the public to maintain proper hygiene, consume safe food and drinking water, and seek medical attention if symptoms such as severe diarrhoea, vomiting, or fever develop.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
